Every terrorist was once a child. So was every missionary. The difference between them is often the influence of a parent. Samuel the Prophet led the nation of Israel for 40 years and guided King David in some of his most crucial decisions but who was the dominant influence in his life? His mother! Listen, ‘Therefore I… have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord…’ (1 Samuel 1:28 NKJV).

While you have your children, hold them, love them, care for them and empower them but understand that you are a steward, not an owner. Your children belong to God, not you! Some day they will grow up and leave. Make sure that when they do they have a spiritual anchor because life will give them lots of storms. Never underestimate the power of a parent pleading with God on behalf of a child. Who knows how many prayers are being answered right now because of the faithful pondering of a mother 10 or 20 years ago? If what you are doing in this fast-paced society is taking you away from prayer time for your children; you’re doing too much!

There is nothing more special, more precious, than the time a parent spends interceding with God on behalf of a child. It’s not too late for the child who brought you tears. Think of Jesus’ mother who had to watch her son crucified but also had the joy of seeing Him raised from the dead. You may go to your grave wondering if your prayers will ever be answered but don’t stop praying. Why? Because when mothers pray, God listens!

The Scottish evangelist Brownlow North came to Christ in November 1854 after living a life of debauchery. After his conversion, he gave up his old ways and immediately began to share the gospel. One day, just prior to entering the church in Inverness, he was handed an anonymous letter saying:

“Brownlow North, you miserable hypocrite!” The letter then contained lurid details of his past, and concluded:

“Now, you wretched hypocrite! You know that every word of this letter is true; will you, after reading it, dare to go into that pulpit, and rant and rave, and preach what you call the gospel?”

North was shaken by the letter, but he put it into his pocket, and when the time for his message came, he read these familiar words from 1 Timothy 1:15:

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am chief.”

North then told of the letter handed to him, confessed to his sorrow and shame that the accusations were true, preached that God had forgiven him and finally said if God could forgive him he could forgive anyone. Brownlow North continued his powerful ministry for the next twenty years until his death.

Adam talked and walked with God on an ongoing basis, not just when he had a problem or specific need. Adam’s relationship with God was not based on doing but simply on being!

Adam is not remembered for miracles; he never saw a miracle and never asked for a miracle. He is remembered for his personal walk with God.

How is our walk with God?

Do we walk with him and talk with him every day? Are we walking through the scriptures and discovering the plan and purpose God has for our lives?

I believe that God wants us – Riviera Life Church – to discover new paths of adventure, purpose and intimacy. Are we willing to leave the pathway of familiarity and predictability and venture into the unknown?

Joshua went through the camp of Israel and instructed them to prepare themselves – set themselves apart because God was about to take them on a journey in a direction they had never been before!

Riviera Life Church prepare yourselves; set yourselves apart, God is about to launch us on a journey and we have never been this way before!”